Lock construction



July 1960 R. D. GROGAN I 2,945,371

* LOCK CONSTRUCTION,

Filed May 21, 1958 INVENTOR.

ROBERT D. GROGAN v BY Flm G. OLSEN A'r'romcv iinite LOCK CONSTRUCTIONFiled May 21, 1958, Ser. No. 736,801

9 Claims. (Cl. 70-78) The present invention relates to a lockconstruction adapted primarily for use in a glove box of an automobile.However, it isto be understood that the present invention is not limitedto such use, but can be used for numerous other purposes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automobile glovecompartment lock construction which has a reciprocable cylinder part foractuating the latch part that secures the door of the compartment, saidlock construction being characterized by the compactness of the partsand the unique mechanical movements employed so that it occupies aminimum of space and assures positive movement of its components.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lockconstruction of the foregoing character wherein axial movement of thecylinder part is converted into transverse movement of the latch part bya simple camming action between these parts.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a lockconstruction of the foregoing character which has a simple and uniquemeans for locking movement of the reciprocable cylinder part so as toprevent moving said latch part to its open position.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a lockconsruction of the foregoing character which has a key plug memberrotatably mounted in said cylinder part and wherein said means includesa bolt member movable transversely of said cylinder part and wherein aspiral slot is formed in one of said members and a pin extends from theother member into said slot so that on rotation of said key plug memberthe bolt member can move into or out of a locking position.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a lockconstruction of the foregoing character which is constructed andarranged so that a single spring functions to return both the cylinderpart and the latch part to their normal positions.

'Other objects of this invention will appear in the followingdescription and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lock construction embodying thepresent invention;

. Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1with portions of the inner works omitted;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the lock construction shownin Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is afragmentary section taken on the line 55 of Figure 3; and

' Figure 6 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement States Fatent Patented July19,1960 ice 2 of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since theinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose ofdescription and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawings, a more detailed description of thepresent invention will be given. The lock construction 10 includes ahousing 12 which has a pair of laterally extending attachment flanges14. Carried within the housing for reciprocal, axial movement is acylinder part 16 within which is a rotatable key plug -18. A latch part20 of generally U-shape is mounted in inverted position on the housingand is adapted to be moved upwardly or downwardly, in a manner to bedescribed, as a result of axial movement of the cylinder part 16.

In the normal use of the lock construction 10, it will be mounted in thedoor of a glove compartment (not shown) of an automobile. The latch part20 will operatively engage the frame for such door for keeping thelatter closed. When it is desired to open the door, the front of thecylinder part 16 will be pushed inward causing the cylinder part 16 tomove axially inwardly, thereby lowering the latch part 20 and allowingthe door to swing open. It is desirable to lock such door, on occasions,and for this purpose the key plug member 18 is mounted in the cylinderpart 16. One of the novel features of the present invention is thesimple and compact construction and arrangement provided for locking thecylinder part 16 against axial movement.

The rear or inward face 22 of the key plug member 18 has a spiral slot24 cut therein, as best can be seen in Figures 3, 5 and 6. A bolt member26 is positioned againstthe rear face 22 and is adapted to be movedtransversely through the openings 28 and 30 in the cylinder part 16 andthe housing 12, respectively. As can be seen, the openings 28 and 30 areaxially aligned with the intended path of movement of the bolt member26. :Carried by the bolt member 26 is a pin 32 which extends into thespiral slot 24 and is free to travel therein on rotation of the key plugmember 18. By virtue of the shape of the spiral slot 24 and the lengthof the bolt member 26, one revolution of the key plug member 18 willcause the bolt member 26 to be raised from the position shown in Figure5 to a position wherein the lower end of bolt member 26 will bewithdrawn from the opening 30 in the housing 12. Thus, turning of thekey plug member 18 will effect locking or unlocking of the axialmovement of the cylinder part 16, and thereby prevent or permitunlatching of the glove compartment door (not shown). 'It will beobserved that minimum space is required to house this locking mechanism.

Another feature of the present invention is the simple and compactconstruction and arrangement for raising and lowering the latch 20.Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 4, it will be observed that the cylinderpart 16 has two laterally extending lugs 34 and 36 whichare slidable onthe inclined ramps 38 and 40, respectively, formed on the inner sides ofthe legs 42 and 44 of the latch part 20. Referring to Figure 1, when thecylinder part 16 is pushed to the right, the lug 34 will slide on theinclined ramp 38, causing the latch part 29 to be lowered. On return ofthe cylinder part 16 to its original position, the latch part 20 is freeto return to its original position. To eifect this return and also tourge the cylinder part 16 in an outward direction, a compression spring46 is seated at its upper end in the base of the U-shaped latch part20,, and the lower end extends through an opening 48 in the housing 12into engagement with the pin 50 which seats} on top of the cylinder part16 in the groove 52 uins.

the spring 46 functions to urge the latch upwardly, and through theramps 38, 40 and the lugs 34, 36 urges the cylinder part 16 to itsoutermost position. Also, the pin 54) which ifits in groove 52 as wellas into opening 48 prevents the cylinder part 16 :from'being withdrawnfurther from -housing.12 than the amount shown in Figure 1.

- From the foregoing it can :be seen that as'imple compact lockconstruction has "been provided, which utilizes minimum space and parts,and which 'is sturdy and re quires minimum movement of parts to eifectopening and closing of the latch-as Well as looking the same againstopening.

, Having thusdescribed my invention,:I claim:

1. In a lock construction, a housing having an 'opening on each of itsopposite sides, 'an inverted 'U-shaped latch part straddling saidhousing and having an inclined ramp on the inner side of eachlegadjacent each of .the respective openings in said housing, a cylinderpart for a 'key plug member axially movable in said housing and havingzlaterally projecting lugs extending through said openings for slidingon said ramps so that on axial movement'of said cylinder part the latchpart will be moved upwardly or .downwardly, a key plug member rotatablymounted in said cylinder part, a bolt member positioned transversely ofsaid housing and operably connected to said key plug member so as to bemoved transversely on rotational movement of said key plug member, saidhousing and said cylinder part having openings aligned with said boltmember, the latter being of sufi'icient length to extend into both thelast-named openings when the key plug member is turned to one positionand to be retracted from the last-named opening in said housing when thekey .plug member is turned to another position, whereby when said keyplug member is turned to said one position the bolt member will preventaxial movement of said cylinder part.

2. In a lock construction, a housing having anopening on'each of itsopposite sides, an inverted U-shaped latch part straddling said housingand having an inclined ramp on .the inner side of each leg adjacent eachof the respective openings in said housing, a cylinder part for a keyplug member-axially movable in said housing and having laterallyprojecting lugs extending through said openings for sliding on saidramps so that on axial movement of said cylinder part the latch partwill be moved upwardly or downwardly, a key plug member rotatablymounted in said cylinder part and having a spiral slot on its rear face,a bolt member positioned transversely on the rear face of the key plugmember with a pin extending from said bolt member into said spiral slot,said housing and said cylinder part having openings aligned with saidbolt-member, the latter being of sufficient length to extend into boththe last-named openings when the key plug member is turned to oneposition and to be retracted from the last-named opening in said housingwhen the key plug member is turned to another position whereby axialmovement of said cylinder part can 'be selectively permitted orprevented by turning said key plug member to one or the other of saidpositions.

3. Inalock construction, a housing having an opening in one of itssides, an inverted U-shaped latch part straddling said housing, acylinder part fora key plug member axially movable in said housing, oneof said parts having an inclined ramp and the other part having aprojecting lug extending through said opening and slidably positioned onsaid ramp, said ramp and said lug being arranged so that on axialmovement of said cylinder part in one direction the latch part can bemoved downwardly and on axial movement of said cylinder part in theother direction the latch part can be moved upwardly, a'key plugmember-rotatably mountedin said cylinder part and having a spiral slotonits rear face, a'bolt member positioned transversely on the rear 'faceof the key plug member with a pin extending fromsaid boltmeniber intosaid spiral slot, said 'housing'and said cylinder part having openingsaligned with said bolt member, the latter being of suificient length toextend into both the last-named openings when the key plug mem ber isturned to one position and to be retracted from the last-named openingin said housing when the key plug member is turned to another positionwhereby axial movement of said cylinder part can be selectivelypermitted or prevented by turning said key plug member to one or theother of 'said positions.

4.. In a lock construction, a housing having an opening :in one of itssides, an inverted U-shaped latch part straddling said housing 'andhaving an inclined ramp on the inner side of one leg, a cylinder partfor a key plug member axially movable .in said housing and having alaterally projecting lug extending through said opening and slidable onsaid ramp 'so that on axial movement of said cylinder part in onedirection the latch part is moved downwardly and on axial movement ofsaid cylinder part in the other direction the latch part can be movedupwardly, a key plug member mounted in said cylinder part, a bolt memberpositioned transversely on the rear face of the key plug member, one ofsaid members having a spiral slot opening in the direction of the other,and the other member carrying a pin extending into said spiral slot,said housing and saidcylinder part having openings aligned with saidbolt member, the latter being sufficiently long to extend into bothlastnamed openings when the key plug member is turned to one positionand to be retracted from the last-named opening in said housing when thekey plug member is turned to another position, whereby axial movement ofsaid cylinder part can be selectively permitted or prevented by turningsaid key plug member to one or the other of said positions.

5. In a lock construction, a housing having an opening in one of itssides, an inverted U-shaped latch part straddling said housing,acylinderpart for a key plug member axially movable in said housing, oneof said parts having an inclined ramp and the other part having aprojecting lug extending through said opening and slidable on said ramp,said ramp and said lug being arranged so that on axial movement in onedirection of said cylinder part the latch part can be moved downwardlyand on axial movement in the 'other direction of said cylinder part thelatch part can be moved upwardly, a key plug member rotatably mounted insaid cylinder part, a bolt mem-. ber positioned transversely on the rearface of the key plug member, one of said members having a spiral slotopening in the direction of the other, the other member carrying a pinextending :into said spiral slot, said housing .and said cylinder parthaving openings aligned with said bolt member, the latter bengsufliciently long to extend into both the last-named openings when the.key plug member is turned to one position and .to be re tracted fromthe last-named opening in said housing. when the .key plugmemberisturned to another position, whereby axial movement .of said cylinderpart can be selectively permitted or prevented by turning said key plugmember to one .orthe other of said positions.

6. In a lock construction, ,a housing having an opening in one of itssides, an inverted U-shaped latch part straddling said housing acylinder part for akey plug member axially movable in said housing, oneof said parts having an inclined ramp and the other part having aprojecting lug extending through said opening and slidable on said ramp,said ramp and said lug being arranged so that on axial movement in onedirection of'said cylinder part the latch part can be moveddownwardlyand on axial movement in the other direction of said cylinder part thelatch part can be moved upwardly, a key plug member rotatably mounted insaid cylinder part, a bolt member positioned transversely of 'saidhousing and operably connected to said key .plug member so as to bemoved transversely on rotational movement of said key plug member, saidhousing and said cylinder part having openings aligned with said boltmember, the latter being sufficiently long to extend into both thelast-named openings when the key plug member is turned to one positionand to be retracted from the last-named opening in said housing when thekey plug member is turned to another position, whereby axial movement ofsaid cylinder part can be selectively permitted or prevented by turningsaid key plug member to one or the other of said positions.

7. In a lock construction, a housing having an opening in one of itssides, an inverted U-shaped latch part straddling said housing, acylinder part for a key plug member axially movable in said housing, oneof said parts having an inclined ramp and the other part having aprojecting lug extending through said opening and slidable on said ramp,said ramp and said lug being arranged so that on 15 axial movement inone direction of said cylinder part the latch part can be moveddownwardly and on axial movement in the other direction of said cylinderpart the latch part can be moved upwardly.

8. In a lock construction, a housing having openings in each of itssides, an inverted U-shaped latch part straddling said housing andhaving an inclined ramp on the inner side of each leg, a cylinder partfora key plug member axially movable in said housing and havinglaterally projecting lugs extending through said openings for sliding onsaid ramps so that on axial movement of said cylinder part the latchpart will be moved upwardly or downwardly.

9. In a lock construction, a housing having openings in each of itssides, an inverted U-shape latch part straddling said housing and havingan upwardly and forwardly facing inclined ramp on the inner side of eachleg, a cylinder part for a key plug member axially movable in saidhousing and having laterally projecting lugs extending through saidopenings for sliding on said ramps so that on axial inward movement ofsaid cylinder part the latch part will be moved downwardly, and acompression spring opera-bly positioned between the base of said latchpart and said cylinder part for urging said latch upwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS854,938 Eckstein May 28, 1907 1,257,998 Gruber Mar. 5, 1918 1,369,820Kriz Mar. 1, 1921 1,521,862 Briggs Jan. 6, 1925 1,828,152 Nonamaker Oct.20, 1931 1,965,939 Jacobi July 10, 1934 2,240,412 Nyquist Apr. 29, 19412,306,022 Lach Dec. 22, 1942 2,454,926 Jacobi Nov. 30, 1948 2,753,061Raymond Oct. 30, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 61,028 Denmark May 31, 1943

